AIMA condemns “inadmissible” acts of violence against immigrants in Porto

In the early hours of Friday, several immigrants were attacked in three different locations in the city of Porto, with at least two of those attacked receiving assistance at Hospital de São João.

The Agency for the Integration of Migrants and Asylum (AIMA) condemned and repudiated the acts of violence against immigrants in Porto, classifying them as unacceptable and particularly serious if the motivation for racial and xenophobic hatred is confirmed.

“AIMA reaffirms that acts like these are absolutely unacceptable in a democratic State of law, based on the principles of equality, non-discrimination, intercultural and religious dialogue, assuming particular gravity if the motivation for racial and xenophobic hatred is confirmed”, stated the agency, in a written response sent to Lusa.

AIMA adds that it has been following the events since it became aware of them and, in cooperation with the various entities involved, namely criminal investigation, municipal, local, hospital and civil society, such as immigrant associations, to obtain reliable information and provide all necessary support within the scope of [suas] assignments”.

AIMA also states that, with the aim of obtaining more information and promoting concerted actions, it contacted the Porto City Council on Saturday.

For the organization, “all entities and society are therefore called upon to act, expressing an unequivocal commitment to combating all situations of violence against people residing in Portugal”.

“In addition to respecting the fundamental rights of all people, it is important to remember the essential contribution of migrants to the robustness of our society, our culture, our demography and our economy”, he adds.

In the early hours of Friday, several immigrants were attacked in three different locations in the city of Porto, with at least two of those attacked receiving assistance at Hospital de São João.

In one case, the attack took place at the home of 10 immigrants, on Rua do Bonfim, which was invaded by a group of 10 men.

Following the various attacks, six men were identified and one was arrested for possession of an illegal weapon, having been brought to court and placed in pre-trial detention.

The mayor of Porto stated today that the attack against migrants, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, is “unacceptable and a hate crime”, defending the extinction of AIMA.

“The attack on a house where immigrants live, in the parish of Bonfim, in Porto, is a hate crime that cannot be relativized in any way. It is an unacceptable attack”, said Rui Moreira at the beginning of the municipal executive meeting.

Rui Moreira understood that this episode requires “concrete actions, a lot of responsibility and rationality in the management of scarce public resources”, therefore defending the extinction of AIMA and the use of the resources at its disposal to enable municipalities to respond and reinforce police forces the resources they currently lack to combat crime.

“I repeat, AIMA is an inoperative agency that wastes public money without fulfilling its proposed mission and, therefore, it must be extinguished”, he insisted.